Central Nervous System Depressants

Definition

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants are drugs that can be used to slow down brain activity.

Purpose

CNS depressants may be prescribed by a physician to treat anxiety, muscle tension, pain, insomnia, acute stress reactions, panic attacks, and seizure disorders. In higher doses, some CNS depressants may be used as general anesthetics.

Description

Throughout history, humans have sought relief from anxiety and insomnia by using substances that depress brain activity and induce a drowsy or calming effect. CNS depressants include a wide range of drugs such as alcohol, narcotics, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal), benzodiazepines (Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Valium, Xanax), chloral hydrate, and methaqualone (Quaaludes), as well as newer CNS depressants developed in the 1990s, such as Buspirone (Buspar) and Zolpidem (Ambien), which are thought to have the fewest side effects. Most CNS depressants activate a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps decrease brain activity. Street names for CNS depressants include Reds, Yellows, Blues, Ludes, Barbs, and Downers.

Precautions

Most CNS depressants have the potential to be physically and psychologically addictive. Alcohol is the most widely abused depressant. The body tends to develop tolerance for CNS depressants, and larger doses are needed to achieve the same effects. Withdrawal from some CNS depressants can be uncomfortable; for example, withdrawal from a depressant treating insomnia or anxiety can cause rebound insomnia or anxiety as the brain's activity bounces back after being suppressed. In some cases withdrawal can result in lifethreatening seizures. Generally, depressant withdrawal should be undertaken under a physician's supervision. Many physicians will reduce the depressant dosage gradually, to give the body time to adjust. Certain CNS depressants such as barbiturates are easy to overdose on, since there is a relatively small difference between the optimal dose and an overdose. A small miscalculation can lead to coma, slowed breathing, and death. CNS depressants should be administered to elderly individuals with care, as these individuals have a reduced ability to metabolize CNS depressants.

Side effects

Especially when taken in excess, CNS depressants can cause confusion and dizziness, and impair judgment, memory, intellectual performance, and motor coordination.

Interactions

CNS depressants should be used with other medications, such as antidepressant medications, only under a physician's supervision. Certain herbal remedies, such as Valerian and Kava, may dangerously exacerbate the effects of certain CNS depressants. Also, ingesting a combination of CNS depressants, such Valium and alcohol, for example, is not advised. When mixed together, CNS depressants tend to amplify each other's effects, which can cause severely reduced heart rate and even death.

Key terms

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) — A neurotransmitter that slows down the activity of nerve cells in the brain.

Neurotransmitter — A chemical compound in the brain that carries signals from one nerve cell to another.

Resources

Books

Fontanarosa, P. Alternative Medicine: An Objective Assessment. American Medical Association, 2000.

Organizations

American Society of Addiction Medicine. 4601 North Park Avenue, Arcade Suite 101, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. (301) 656-3920. http://www.asam.org.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. 6001 Executive Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20892. (301) 443-1124 http://www.nida.nih.gov.

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Medical browser	?		Full browser	?
Appetite-Enhancing Drugs Barbiturates barbituric acid cardiac depressant central nervous system depressant cerebral depressant chlorpromazine conscious sedation 1 cyclopropane depressant GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid hydroxyzine loxapine meclizine HCl meprobamate mesoridazine methadone metharbital	as in central nervous system depressants (including alcohol, benzodiazepines such as Valium, sedatives, tranquilizers, and some sleep aids)? Detoxification from Addictive Substances by George Meszaros / Health care industry community Those Cleaning products which can be sold at the groceries contain dangerous ingredients including neurotoxins, carcinogens, allergens, central nervous system depressants, heavy metals, and other agents that cause or contribute to cancer, respiratory problems, reproductive abnormalities, allergic reactions, and behavioral problems, among other issues. Switch to Natural Cleaning Products and You Can Save the Earth by Markus Skupeika / Home based business community Central Nervous System Depressants Central nervous system depressants are drugs such as pentobarbital sodium, diazepam, and alprazolam, better known as Nembutal, Valium, and Xanax, respectively. The Types of Prescription Drugs Commonly Abused by Gabriel Adams / Food/cooking/nutrition community	central chondrosarcoma central cord syndrome central core disease central core myopathy central corneal clouding central deafness Central Dogma central electrode Central Europe tickborne fever central facilitation Central Fatigue central feature central fissure central fovea central ganglioneuroma central gyri central hypothyroidism central implantation central incisor central line central lobe central lymph node central necrosis central nervous system central nervous system depressant Central Nervous System Depressants Central Nervous System Infections central nervous system leukemia central nervous system prophylaxis central nervous system stimulant Central Nervous System Stimulants central nervous system syndrome central nervous system tumor central neurogenic hyperventilation central neuronal plasticity central nystagmus Central Obesity central optic zone central ossifying fibroma central osteitis central pain central paralysis central pathway central pit central placenta previa central pontine myelinolysis central processing unit central ray central retinal artery Central retinal vein central scotoma	Central Navigation Computer Central Nearest-Neighbor Force Central Nebraska Circle Track Association Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism Central Nebraska Distance Education Consortium Central Nebraska Economic Development District Central Nebraska Film Festival Central Nebraska Habitat for Humanity Central Nebraska Peace Workers Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Central Nebraska Support Service Program Central Nebraska Writers Network central necrosis central necrosis central necrosis central necrosis Central Negros Shooters Association Central Neighbourhood House Central Nervous Involvement in Sjogren's Syndrome central nervous system central nervous system central nervous system central nervous system central nervous system central nervous system Central nervous system agents Central nervous system agents Central nervous system agents Central Nervous System Cavernous Hemangioma central nervous system depressant Central Nervous System Depressants Central nervous system disease in systemic lupus erythematosus Central nervous system diseases Central nervous system diseases Central nervous system diseases central nervous system fasciculus central nervous system fasciculus central nervous system fasciculus Central nervous system helminthiasis Central nervous system helminthiasis Central nervous system helminthiasis Central nervous system infection Central nervous system infections Central nervous system infections Central nervous system infections central nervous system leukemia Central Nervous System Lymphocytic Leukemia Central Nervous System Lymphomas Central Nervous System Monitoring Central nervous system neoplasms Central nervous system neoplasms Central nervous system neoplasms central nervous system nucleus central nervous system nucleus central nervous system nucleus central nervous system nucleus Central Nervous System Prophylactic Treatment central nervous system prophylaxis Central Nervous System Quantity Not Sufficient central nervous system stimulant Central nervous system stimulants

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Medical browser

Full browser

Appetite-Enhancing Drugs
Barbiturates
barbituric acid
cardiac depressant
central nervous system depressant
cerebral depressant
chlorpromazine
conscious sedation 1
cyclopropane
depressant
GABA
gamma-aminobutyric acid
hydroxyzine
loxapine
meclizine HCl
meprobamate
mesoridazine
methadone
metharbital

as in central nervous system depressants (including alcohol, benzodiazepines such as Valium, sedatives, tranquilizers, and some sleep aids)?

Detoxification from Addictive Substances by George Meszaros / Health care industry community

Those Cleaning products which can be sold at the groceries contain dangerous ingredients including neurotoxins, carcinogens, allergens, central nervous system depressants, heavy metals, and other agents that cause or contribute to cancer, respiratory problems, reproductive abnormalities, allergic reactions, and behavioral problems, among other issues.

Switch to Natural Cleaning Products and You Can Save the Earth by Markus Skupeika / Home based business community

Central Nervous System Depressants Central nervous system depressants are drugs such as pentobarbital sodium, diazepam, and alprazolam, better known as Nembutal, Valium, and Xanax, respectively.

The Types of Prescription Drugs Commonly Abused by Gabriel Adams / Food/cooking/nutrition community

central chondrosarcoma

central cord syndrome

central core disease

central core myopathy

central corneal clouding

central deafness

Central Dogma

central electrode

Central Europe tickborne fever

central facilitation

Central Fatigue